Cuello Looking For More Glove

Patrick Teale

09/14/2007

Prilys Cuello, the 18-year old second baseman for the Gulf Coast League Yankees this past season, had a solid offensive showing in his first year in the United States. But while his .283 average and six home runs were impressive, he wasn't exactly thrilled with his defensive play and he says improving that area of his game is his top priority.

"I feel good," Prilys Cuello said of his debut season in the United States through the help of Manny Barreda translating. "I feel like I had a good season, thanks to God. I'm happy with what I've done."

Pleased with hitting .283 overall, he was particularly excited about how he finished his year with the Gulf Coast League Yankees, hitting .304 in the final month and scoring as many runs [14] in his last 19 games as he had in his first 28 games.

And while he admits to getting more comfortable in the field at second base, after committing seven of his team-high 16 errors in last month of the season, he realizes there is still plenty of work to be done.

"Defensively I've improved a lot," said Cuello. "I've improved going to the right-side on grounders and making back-handed plays. My defensive game as whole though, I feel like I'm a little behind and still have some work to do."

"I feel like I should be doing a little bit better. Even though I've improved going to the right, that's still the area where I need to work on the most."

With his bat always the strongest part of his game, he said he expected to have the kind of solid offensive season he had this year and he believes he made some improvements as the year went on.

"I kind of expected to hit this way this year, that's always been the way I hit," he said if he met his offensive goals. "I'm reading the ball a lot better at the plate and going to the opposite field a lot more from both sides of the plate, that's what we've been working on this year."

Despite clubbing more doubles and batting 50 points higher from the right-side, the switch-hitter insists he is more comfortable facing right-handed pitchers because he can see the ball better.

With an eye towards next season however, as good as he has been at the plate, improving his range and glove-work are atop his priority list.

"I want to improve more defensively, that's my biggest goal for this offseason," he admitted. "That's really the thing I need to work on the most right now. I'm real happy with the year I had, but I think I can do better."

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\r\n \r\n\r\n\"I feel good,\" Prilys Cuello said of his debut season in the United States through the help of Manny Barreda translating. \"I feel like I had a good season, thanks to God. I'm happy with what I've done.\"\r\n\r\nPleased with hitting .283 overall, he was particularly excited about how he finished his year with the Gulf Coast League Yankees, hitting .304 in the final month and scoring as many runs [14] in his last 19 games as he had in his first 28 games.\r\n\r\nAnd while he admits to getting more comfortable in the field at second base, after committing seven of his team-high 16 errors in last month of the season, he realizes there is still plenty of work to be done.\r\n\r\n\"Defensively I've improved a lot,\" said Cuello. \"I've improved going to the right-side on grounders and making back-handed plays. My defensive game as whole though, I feel like I'm a little behind and still have some work to do.\"\r\n\r\n\"I feel like I should be doing a little bit better. Even though I've improved going to the right, that's still the area where I need to work on the most.\"\r\n\r\nWith his bat always the strongest part of his game, he said he expected to have the kind of solid offensive season he had this year and he believes he made some improvements as the year went on.\r\n\r\n\"I kind of expected to hit this way this year, that's always been the way I hit,\" he said if he met his offensive goals. \"I'm reading the ball a lot better at the plate and going to the opposite field a lot more from both sides of the plate, that's what we've been working on this year.\"\r\n\r\nDespite clubbing more doubles and batting 50 points higher from the right-side, the switch-hitter insists he is more comfortable facing right-handed pitchers because he can see the ball better.\r\n\r\nWith an eye towards next season however, as good as he has been at the plate, improving his range and glove-work are atop his priority list.\r\n\r\n\"I want to improve more defensively, that's my biggest goal for this offseason,\" he admitted. \"That's really the thing I need to work on the most right now. I'm real happy with the year I had, but I think I can do better.\" \r\n\r\n

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